Chiefs’ Under-the-Radar Stars: 4 Players Who Could Shock the World and Lead Kansas City to Victory

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are getting set for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, Feb. 9.

This game will have no shortage of NFL stars, from Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. The Super Bowl isn’t always about the stars, though. It’s about winning in the margins and which of the 22 players on the field at a given moment can rise to the occasion and make a play when it matters most for the team.

There are several underrated players to know for Kansas City heading into this game. Even if they’re not household names, they could be difference-makers in the team’s chances at a three-peat. All it takes is one play to change the game.

Here’s a look at four of the most underrated who could be called upon to make a big play on Sunday.

TE Peyton Hendershot

There will probably be some Chiefs fans who see this name and say, “Who?” Hendershot was an early-season trade acquisition with the Dallas Cowboys. He only appeared in nine games this season due to a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve after Week 12. He was activated back to the 53-man roster ahead of the Steelers game on Christmas Day after knee injuries to Jared Wiley and Jody Fortson left the No. 3 tight end spot open again.

What Chiefs fans fail to realize about Hendershot is that he was the most reliable receiver in the offense this season. He’s the only receiver with more than one target to have caught every pass thrown at him this season (5 catches for 51 yards). He made the catch of the day in practice on Monday, according to PFWA pool reporter Luke Johnson, “A leaping, twisting catch over the middle of the field.” Hendershot probably won’t be a guy to rack up the stats on Sunday, but don’t count him out for a crucial catch or a big special teams play in a spot that you don’t particularly expect.

DT Tershawn Wharton

There’s a focus on Charles Omenihu coming into this game, given that he missed Super Bowl LVIII due to injury, but I’m looking at another D-Lineman as one who could make an outsized impact. Turk is coming off what has unquestionably been the best season of his NFL career, with 6.5 sacks, 23 total pressures, and 11 tackles for loss. With Chris Jones taking up a ton of attention in terms of double teams, it’ll often leave Wharton with a 1-on-1 matchup along the offensive interior.

The Eagles have a very good offensive line, and Jeff Stoutland is one of the best O-Line coaches in the league. However, the interior is weaker than their offensive tackles, and you’ve got two of their players returning from injuries that were aggravated in the NFC Championship Game: Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson. That’s a matchup that Turk will need to take advantage of if the Chiefs are to find success.

RS Nikko Remigio

Remigio is probably not as under-the-radar as he could be at this juncture, given that he’s had a big kick return (63 yards vs. the Houston Texans) and a big punt return (41 yards vs. the Buffalo Bills) in the last two postseason games. He also made headlines for his story about Travis Kelce calling him out in the AFC title game, which inspired his big punt return.

This is the first Super Bowl with the new kickoff rules, so I wonder if another big play could be in store for Remigio on Sunday. Rest assured that he’ll be taking the kicks and punts back if he has a chance to do so. He’s yet to catch a pass from Patrick Mahomes despite the occasional snap on offense. Still, it’d be very like the Chiefs to get a package of plays into the game plan for Remigio after not having utilized him in that capacity all season long. Unscouted looks help you win football games at this point of the season, and he’s earned some trust on special teams, so why not give it a shot?

LB Leo Chenal

According to PFF, Chenal has finished as a top 2 Super Bowl performer among all Chiefs defenders in the past two seasons. Now, he obviously won’t care about that fact. What he will care about is how his performance helps Kansas City win games.  He’s seen a steady increase in opportunity in each consecutive Super Bowl, which is something I’d expect for this game as well.

In Super Bowl LVII against the Eagles the first time around, he played just 18 total snaps, producing a sack and four defensive stops. In Super Bowl LVIII, he saw his snap total increase to 27, producing two pressures, two stops, and a forced fumble. His average snap total on defense this season has been 27, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him play between 30-40 on Sunday. We shouldn’t rule out an impact on special teams, too, given his two blocked field goals so far this year.